Aquatic exports enjoy bright prospects in Swiss market

With the market share of Vietnamese seafood making up 11.3% of Switzerland’s total import turnover, Vietnam is currently the second largest seafood supplier to Switzerland, behind only Norway, reports the International Trade Center (ITC).

Most notably, Switzerland's domestic seafood supply only meets approximately 12% of consumption demand, meaning that it has to depend mainly on imported seafood. The European nation imports roughly 75,000 tonnes of fish and over 115,000 tonnes of shrimp annually.

Vietnamese seafood exports to this market mainly consist of frozen shrimp and pangasius alongside frozen tuna, frozen clams, and frozen eel. Of these items, frozen shrimp and pangasius account for 80.8% and 17.4% of Switzerland’s total seafood export value, respectively.

Experts have advised local businesses to improve product quality in an attempt to promote seafood exports to the Swiss market, particularly as Switzerland has set forth strict requirements on imports to ensure health, food safety, and high hygiene standards.

All food sold in Switzerland is required to fully comply with European and Swiss food labeling regulations.

Most notably, Swiss consumers remain keen on eco-labels and are willing to pay extra if these products meet health and environmental requirements. They also require aquaculture products to meet the standards of the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC).

Swiss companies and retailers have recently moved to increase the import and distribution of ASC certified aquaculture products.